Forward Mitch McGovern says Adelaide can avoid grand final hangover in 2018

MITCH McGovern reveals the motivation that can take the Adelaide Crows back to the top this season.

Cam Ellis-Yolmen is set for a big year coming off knee surgery, says Mitch McGovern.

• Atkins won’t captain Crows in JLT opener
• Crows hopeful Smith will feature in 2018
• Star Crows steps up rehab in US
• Walker says Crows have no grand final scars

MITCH McGovern says Adelaide won’t fall prey to the grand final hangover that consumed West Coast then sabotaged Sydney last season.

And, marking machine McGovern says its best for all concerned to butt out of Rory Sloane’s contract process as Adelaide targets atonement for its 2017 grand final disappointment.

West Coast slipped from second to sixth in 2016 after being overwhelmed in the 2015 decider by Hawthorn. Sydney lost its first six games of 2017 after falling to the Western Bulldogs in the 2016 grand final. Luke Beveridge’s ‘Dogs failed to reach the finals after 2017’s breakthrough premiership.

“It is definitely a perceived sort of thing with West Coast and even the Bulldogs. It is something that has been known to happen,” said McGovern of the mental fatigue that can affect beaten a grand finalist like brother Jeremy’s Eagles.

“We are definitely in the right direction, looking forward to the JLT series and round one to actually start getting games underway.”

The manner of Adelaide’s uncompetitive grand final display after clinching the minor premiership still hurts at West Lakes. McGovern and Brodie Smith missed the last day in September through injury providing further incentive for retribution.

McGovern, 23, notes Adelaide’s capacity to improve on the standards it set last season as the hallmark of a 2018 riposte, asserting its premiership window is wide open.

“The coaching staff and everyone involved has the done the reviews. There are areas we have to work on to get us there again,” McGovern said, adding it’s prudent to remember Adelaide was “firing on all cylinders” in finals demolitions of Geelong and GWS.

“There is the culture we want around the footy club but the drive and passion is a lot more. Every player has that now after what we have been through.

Rory Sloane and Taylor Walker show the disappointment of the grand final loss.

“We pride ourselves on contested footy and the way we attacked that final game, we lacked.”

Vice-captain Sloane is attracting scrutiny McGovern endured before committing to a three-year contract renewal last August. McGovern says placing undue pressure on free agent Sloane is counter productive and undeserved by a genuine pillar of the club and game.

“We have been through it, every year a name comes out of contract. It is respectful for us to keep our noses out of it much as we can and allow Sloaney and his management team to go the way they have to and in due course we will hear the result,” said McGovern.

“He is an amazing role model not only for the guys in team and across Australia but for every kid the way he goes about everything in his life.”

Adelaide on Sunday hosts Fremantle - the club that attempted to poach McGovern last season - at Strathalbyn in the JLT series opener.

Cam Ellis-Yolmen missed last season due to a knee reconstruction but McGovern tipped the 189cm midfield colossus to fire in 2018.

“Cam Ellis-Yolmen is an absolute beast now and the way he carried himself through last year was a credit to him,” said McGovern.